Co-Founder

Who are we?

The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time and we believe direct-air-capture can be part of the answer. But only if we make it affordable. That is what drives us. We are Tommy and Anna-Lena, two physicists at the IAPP at TU Dresden, and with BeLeaf we want to turn our vision into reality. Our technology uses a conductive leaf skeleton to locally heat our specifically designed CO₂ sorbent, making the regeneration process significantly more energy-efficient and cost-effective. With this approach, we are aiming to reduce the cost per ton captured CO₂ by at least a factor of 5 compared to conventional methods. We have a proof of principle in hand and are now working to derisk the technology and move toward a proof of concept.

What do we offer?

We are currently preparing an EXIST-Forschungstransfer application, due by the end of November, and are looking to complete our founding team before submission. If successful, the grant will provide financial support for a team of four from May 2027 to October 2028. We are confident in our application and plan to found the company within 2027. As a potential Co-Founder, you will receive an equity stake alongside the other Co-Founders.

Beyond the grant period, our ambition is to raise venture capital to scale our technology and establish BeLeaf as a serious player in the DAC market. You would be joining at the ground floor of that journey. Through our network at the IAPP at TU Dresden we bring strong institutional ties, access to research infrastructure, and connections within the climate tech community, all of which we see as a shared asset for the whole founding team.

Who are we looking for?

If you bring both technical depth and an interest in building a company, then BeLeaf might be the right place for you. If you are keen taking the lead on our engineering/scale-up activity or chemistry development, then you are probably the one we are looking for. Beyond that, if you are driven by the mission and bring expertise in business or carbon capture, there may well be a place for you at BeLeaf.

Co-Founder – Engineering & Prototype Development

You have a background in plant construction, mechanical engineering, or a related field, and you enjoy getting your hands dirty to move hardware forward quickly. Ideally you have practical experience in CAD design and metal chamber construction (such as welding and CNC milling). In this role, you will be responsible for scaling the technology by planning, designing, and constructing our DAC pressure/vacuum chambers toward a pilot-stage plant.

A background in business or prior founding experience is a plus, but what matters most is that you are pragmatic, hands-on, and excited about building something from scratch.

Co-Founder – Chemistry & Sorbent Optimization

You have a strong foundation in chemistry, ideally with experience in sorbent materials, surface chemistry, or related areas, and you want to apply that expertise to one of the most pressing challenges in climate technology. You will lead the optimization of our CO₂ sorbent material to make our DAC process more reliable, efficient and cost-effective. Again, business experience or founding ambition is a bonus, but your scientific drive and willingness to work in an early-stage environment matter more.

Open to generalists too

If you don’t fit neatly into either profile but bring deep expertise in DAC, MRV, or adjacent fields, a background in business, or any combination of the above, combined with a genuine interest in co-founding and passion for climate tech, we’d still love to hear from you.

Are you ready to make a difference?

Send us your CV and a short cover letter until 14.08.26 to anna-lena.hofmann@tu-dresden.de

We look forward to hearing from you!